Oh my!
Microwaves, and computers and cellphones! Oh my!
It seems that’s all we’ve been talking about the past few weeks. raul castro, that magnanimous reformer and purveyor of the softer side of tyranny, has instigated the “changes” we’ve all been hearing about, ad nauseum, since his older colostomied brother handed over the reigns. “Ordinary” Cubans will now be “allowed” to purchase the aforementioned items and – get this! – also now be allowed to stay in tourist hotels in their own country!
The MSM is practically going apeshit over these gifts from Cuba’s military Santa Claus. Supporters of the regime are dancing a jig because they can point to these and say “Look at all the new freedoms Cubans have! It’s time to end the embargo! We must change US Cuba policy!”
Now, Im no economist or intellectual or politician, but I know a bear shitting in the woods when I see one.
Call it a calculated chess game, call it a poker bluff. These “changes” arent about making life better and easier for Cubans. These changes are strictly and soley about “aint nuthin’ going on but the rent.”
If a cellphone in Cuba costs $260 and your average Cuban makes about $20 a month, how’s the ordinary Jose going to pay for said cellphone, much less the monthly service? How is the average Jose going to pay for a $140 a night hotel room? Or a $300 microwave?
The castro regime has gone “all in” thinking they might just be holding a political straight flush. Theyre banking on the November outcome and those “changes to Cuba policy” that will surely happen once the evil Republicans are out of the White House.
It’s obvious to me that the regime is strapped for cash and that its only savior is the American greenback that comes with the American tourist. Or, even, that monthly stipend from Hialeah or Little Havana, curtailed by this administration’s restrictions.
“Pepe. Ahi te mande 300 cocos pa’ que te compres un microway.”
“Caserita, te envie 300 cocos pa’ que te quedes en el Nacional de luna de miel.”
It’s all about the cash. The cash needed to operate the machinery the poker players need to stay in the game.
3 thoughts on “Lions and tiger and bears!”
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Good post
It is all about the cash
It is all about nothing
It is all about pan y circo ( circus and bread)
It is all about trying to clean tha castro name
The funny thing about all these “changes” the MSM keeps exalting about as if it were the second coming of Christ, is that up to now, the Cuban government has blamed the U.S. embargo on Cuba for their inability to make these “changes.” Yet, here we are, with the so-called embargo -still in place- and the Cuban government ALLOWING Cubans certain “privileges” before denied. Go figure!
Has anyone from the MSM questioned this? Don’t think so! The same way they haven’t questioned why if Cubans –now ALLOWED to purchase computers- won’t have internet access. Who needs a glorified typewriter anyway?
As to all those other items… What good is a microwave if you don’t have food to cook in it? And the access to hotels previously denied… Can someone please tell me if Cuban nationals will be able to mingle with the other guests? Will they be segregated to other parts of the hotel? And since the price of the room also include certain amenities such as: scuba diving, snorkeling, uses of catamarans, sailing, fishing, etc. will Cubans be ALLOWED to enjoy those amenities? Or is it only the room they can use? Can Cuban nationals –not staying at the hotel- go eat at the hotel restaurant? Can they just go for a drink at the hotel bar?
One thing to keep in mind though… On November 8, 2004, the Cuban government withdrew the U.S. dollar from circulation, leaving the convertible peso as the only currency in circulation in Cuban retail outlets. After a grace period, which ended on November 14, 2004, a 10% surcharge began to be imposed when converting U.S. dollars into convertible pesos. This measure helps the Cuban government collect much mucho $$$$.
Checking today’s (4/1/08) exchange rates from U.S. Dollars to Convertible Pesos (CUC) I calculated the following (rounded off):
$3000.00 USD = $2778.00 CUC
$1000.00 USD = $ 926.00 CUC
$ 500.00 USD = $ 463.00 CUC
$ 300.00 USD = $ 278.00 CUC
$ 260.00 USD = $ 240.00 CUC
$ 120.00 USD = $ 111.00 CUC
$ 100.00 USD = $ 92.50 CUC
Is the Guy from Maria Furniture Running the economy in Cuba, seems I hear his voice saying “Aqui lo que importa es el Cash ”